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a 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) v i J. E. LESNEUR.

' BRICK MAUHINE.

No. 355,876. Patented. Jan. 11, 1887.

3 Sheets-Sheen 3,

(No Model.)

J. E. LESNEUR.

BRICK MACHINE.

Patented Jan. 11, 1887.

Koh

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JOHN E. LESNEUR, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

BRlCK-MACHINE.

SP ?CIl-"ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,876, dated January 11,1887. Application filed April 13,1886. Serial No. 198,680. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 71mg concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN E. LESNEUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and usefnl Improvements in Brick-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of brick machines in which a series of molds or mold boxes are linked together to form an endless series, and are pressed beneath the charger or pug-mill, from whence they pass to the presscr; and it has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and effective machine of but few parts and therefore notifiable to get out oi repair; and it consists of the parts and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a oi the chain of mold-boxes and the chain of chine, of any suiiable size and material.

cover-plates; Fig. 3, an end elevation; Fig. 4, an end and side view of plunger and roller; Fig. 5, a vertical czossscction on lincmaz, Fig. 1; Fig. (5, a side elevation of about one-half oi" the machine, showing a modification; and Fig. 7 an enlarged detail view of the righthnnd end of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the frame-work of my ina- On this frame suitable 'mirnal-hoxes l; are no vided at each end for the shafts 0 of the polygonal sprockctwlnx .ls l) D, around which passes the endless chain of 1liOi(1'-l)()X:'3S, and on a longitudinal lnj-nin, 1/,sn portml at about the middlcol' the frame-work on two uprights, n journal-boxes]? are provided lhrthcshalls O of the sprocket-whccis N, around which passes the endless chain of covciyplaies M.

E ii) are tracks or ways, the .l'oriner being located at about midway the height of the machine, and their middle port-ion supported on spiral or other springs, j), secured to the upper ends of short uprights F, and their extremities by uprights F, which extend from i the upper sills of '-the frame, while the track'- E is secured to the frame in any suitable manner sufficient] y high above its bettom sills to r permit of the unobstructed passage of the end-I less chain of mold-boxes when they are re-', turning'empty to be charged by thepug mill.

H is an inclined pressure-plate, which extends from immediately in therea'r of the front spi'ocket wheel, D, to near the rear'sprocketwheel, D.

while its middle portion issupported by the eye-oars'P, three (more or less) on'eachv side of the machine, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1 and full lines in Fig. 5. These bars depend downwardly from the upper pressure-plate, G, and are connected together at their upper and lower ends by cross-bars T, which form the support for both pressure-plates G and H and receive the strain put on the clay in the mold-boxes.

The plateH is on alevel from the'poiut 1, Fig.

1, to point 2, and is inclined at an angle of about 1 fifteen or twenty degrees from 2 to 3, and

slightly inclines from 3 to 4, and from this point is again level to 5, where it first receives the rollers m, Fig. 4, of the plungers K after the same have passed. the sprocket D, inclined strips 3 being secured to the frame at this point, as clearly shown on right-hand side of Figs. 1 and 7, one on each side, to deflect the rollers m pnto the plate H.

flhe endless chain of mold-boxes is composed of the links a, hinged together by linkpins .1, the wheels 0, plungers K, rollers m, and mold boxesor frames d. The pins b project outwardly on each" side of the chain a short distance for the purpose of providing axles for the wheels 0. The boxes (I, as clearly shown. in the side elevations. slope or are inclincd from their tops to their bottoms at each side, forming, when in'line, a V-shaped opei1'- ing or space, 6, between every two boxes, one

object of which is to present to the pug-mill and cover-plates one continuous unbrokense ries of IllOlthbOXfiS, the upper edges of which being in contact form a moving ble or flat surface having no openings or 32mm, into which clay may find its way,and tli. s obstruct or interfere with the operati'qnefifthe chain.

Another objectin thusconst in the mold,-

wheels.

boxes is to afiord a ready escape for any stray particles or lumps of clay which might find their way between the buckets when. they are spread apart in passing over the sprocketwhen brought together will cut the clay, and the gradually-widening space between them will readily permitof, and, in fact assist, its escape, owing to the fact that the boxes, as

they fall in line after passing over the sprocketwheels, gradually contract the space between them, and thus force the clay down or toward their bottoms. The mold-boxes, as here represented, have a'partition in their center, so

The sharp upper edges of the boxes- O is a skimming-knife, which levels the clay in themolds even with the tops or upper surface of the'boxes.

' In Fig. 6 I show a modification of the ma chine, in which allthe parts are the same, excepting the lower pressure-plate, which has 1 that two bricks maybe formed in each box; but, if desired, they may be enlarged, so as to accommodate four or more. The plungers K are accurately fitted to the mold-boxesand form the bottoms thereof. The rollers mxare 2Q journaled in lugs formed integral with and an opening or slot cut through it about twothirds of its length from the front or feeding end of the machine, through which a large wheel, R, projects directly in the track of the rollers m. This wheel is journaled'in boxes 7 supported by an additional pair. of eye-bars,

projecting from the bottoms of the plungers, their shafts d projecting outwardly on each side a short distance beyond the side of the lugs, so as to meet the inclined strips s,above 2 5 referred to,when the wheel D has been passed to-defiect the rollers m onto plate H. The

wheels d run or travel on the tracks or ways E E, the former of which keep the charged ;boxes on a level and well up to the pressure- 3 plate G and prevent all sagging, at the same time this track being supported on springs at its middle portion where the strain is greatest,will yield to any undue strain which might, perhaps, if not relieved, break the track,while 'oyer the latter, E, the boxes are returned to be charged.

M is an endless chain of cover-plates passing around the sprocket-wheels N. These plates are smooth flat pieces of metal or other 40 suitable material hinged together by linkpins on and links 111., and are each adapted to accurately cover one mold-box, and the plates are so adjusted relative to the mold-boxes that when they are in operative position they will 4 5 each meet and exactly cover one mold-box and travel with the same from the point where the pressure is first applied to the clay through the plunger and'lower pressure-plate to the point where the chain of plates begins to recede from the chain of mold-boxes, and thus uncover the same and permit the bricks to be ejected from the molds by the plunger, the rollers of which begin the ascent of inclined plane between 3 and 2 at this point in the 5 5 travel of the chain of boxes. The plates forming part of the chain are secured to or formed integral with the links thereof, the latter being hinged together by the pins m, which catch in recesses formed in the corners of the wheels B, so as to insure the chain. against M passes between the chain of boxes and the pressure-plate G, the pressure from thelatter being exerted on the backs of the plates,which P, somewhat longer than the bars.P, which are hung in the same manner as the said bars P. The rollers c, in their travel over plate H, mustalso travel over the wheels R, and thus put an immense but momentary pressure on the.clay.-

I may discard the wheels 0 and permit the pins 12 to slide over the tracks E E, if I so desire; but I prefer to use the wheels, as they render the operation of the machine easy. I-

do not intend using the wheel R at all times,

and do not desire to be restricted to the use thereof, as I may use merely the lower pressure-plate in connection with the rollers and Y get good results.

S is a chain which passes around a sprocketwheel, .T, on the, shaft 0, and leads over sprocket-wheel S on the shaft 0? of the wheel N, being crossed so as to rotate the sprocketwheels D and'N in opposite directions, and thus cause the endless chain of plates M and chain of mold-boxes to travel together in thesame direction at their point of contact. The wheels D, D, and N are made of the same diameter to give the same rate of speed to the chains.

In operation the clay is placed in the pugmill 0, and its shaft being given motion mixes and tempers the clay, forcing the same downward in a spiral direction and out through its bottom opening into the mold-boxes, the same having. been set in motion by. the shaft 0 through the medium of any suitable power ap-. plied to the gear-wheel thereon, the knife 0 skims the clay in the boxes off even with the upper'surfaces of the same, and they are conveyed along until they meet the cover-plates, wherethe first pressure'is applied'to the clay, the rollers m, beginning the ascent of the plane between 4 and 3, gradually forcing the plunger up into the boxes and compressing the clay against the cover-plates, the latter being braced by the pressure-plate G until the plates recede from the moldiboxes, when the rollers ascend the plane 3 2, gradually forcing the bricks out of the boxes until the level plane 2 1 is reached, where the upper surfaces of the pluugers become fiushwith the upper surfaces of the boxes and the bricks removed from the same by the attendant, the plungers still reexerted on the clay by the rollers I set forth.

maining flush with the boxes until the shafts d of the rollers m come in contact with the inclined strips 8, by which they are deflected again in position for operation. If the wheel R is used,the operation is the same, excepting that a tremendous but momentary pressure is passing over the same.

Havi'ng thus described my invention, what -I claim as new, and desire t secure by I. L-ters Patent, is

1. In a brick-machine, the frame A, the tracks or the combination of ways E E, inclined pressure-plate H, endless chain of mold-boxes,

plung'ers' K, sprocket-wheels .D D, the chain of cover-plate M, sprocket-wheels N, pressureplate G, and suitable eye-bars for-supporting the same, substantially as and for the purpose 2. In a .brickmachine, the combination of the'endless chain of mold-boxes, the pins 6, wheels 0, the plungers K, having-the lugs, rollers m, tracks or ways E E, lower pressureplate, H, upper pressure-plate, G, and the endless chain of cover-plates M, substantially as described.

3. In a brick-machine, the combination of the frame A, sprocket-wheels D D, the chain of mold-boxes provided with the wheels 0, the plungers K, inclined pressure-plate H, and the tracks or ways E E, the track or way E having a yielding support, substantially as 1 and for the purpose described.

4. A track or wayfor the rollers or wheels of an endless chain of mold boxes aving a yielding support, substantially as described.

5. The combination,-i n a brick-machine, of the endless chain of mold-boxes, the plungcrs K, the rollers m, the shafts d, the inclined strips 8, and the prcssureplate H, substantially and for the purpose described.

for the purpose described. onto the level plane beginning at 4, and are 6. The combination, in a brick-machine, of the endless chain of mold-boxes, the wheels 0, the plunger-s K, the rollers m, the tracks or ways E E, the slotted pressure-plate H, the wheel R, and eye-bar P, substantially asand 7. An endless chain of mold-boxes for a brick-machine, consisting of the links a, linkpins 1), wheels 0, aud'boxesd, the latter being sloped from their tops to their bottoms, so as to fOI'lll an unbroken table or surface when in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the horizontally-moving endless chain of mold-boxes, the plungers K, provided with lugs, the rollers m, and the longitudinal pressure-plate H, so constructed as to present inclines of diiferent angles and planes of different levels, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a brick-machine, of the endless chain of mold-boxes, the endless chain of coverplates, the upperpressure-plate, G, the eyebars- P, and the lower pressure plates, H, substantially as described.

10. The brick-machine 'hercinbefbrc describcd,comprisiug a suitable frame, sprocket wheels 1) D N, shafts O 0, tracks or ways E E, the former yieldingly supported, the inclined pressure-plate H, the endless chain of mold-boxes provided with the links a, pins 1), wheels 0, plungers K, and rollers m, the endless chain of cover-plates M, linked together and provided with friction-rollers, the press ure'plate G, cye-bars 1, pug-mill, O, skimming-blade O, crossed belt S, and wheels S and 'l, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. LES N1) I lit. Witnesses:

Jo u N M. f i N'l, LEMUEL'R. (ylnnlu-zul.

a suitable charger or It is hereby certified that the imme ot the pittentce in Letters Patent No. 3555,3576

\ grwnteil January 11, 1887, for an improvement in iiriek-Mja'tchines, Vii-S erronemuil y written and printed John E. Lesncur, whereas said in-iii'ne should have been written and printed Joh'njlu. LGSLLGIM" and that said Letters Patent should be read with this i correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Piti'eni; Oflice. i t

\ Signed, counter-signed, and sealed this 1st day of March, A. l). 1587.

in Letters Patent No. 355,876..

Countersigned:

1t. 1. VANCE,

A ct'in-g (/qnwn'iss'io'rwrhf Patent-'9.

tion 

